Method and instrumentation for cooling a surgical incision

Abstract

An infusion sleeve of an ultrasonic vibrating needle. The sleeve is collapsible and serrated or scalloped at a distal end. Fluid flows through a passage between the needle and the infusion sleeve in a direction from the proximal end of the sleeve to a distal end of the sleeve. Upon reaching the distal end, the fluid emerges by flowing across valley formations that are between peak formations of the distal end of the infusion sleeve. The peak formations abut the exterior of the incision so that the fluid flow cools tissue at the incision and the needle.

1. A cooling apparatus, comprising a needle that defines an interior channel; and an infusion sleeve that is hollow and elongated between proximal and distal ends, the infusion sleeve being made of a flexible material and being collapsible and expandable axially while the needle is repetitively partially withdrawn and advanced, the needle extending within confines of the infusion sleeve and having a tip that projects outwardly beyond the distal end of the infusion sleeve, the infusion sleeve having an interior surface and the needle having an exterior surface between which is defined a passage for fluid flow, the infusion sleeve at the distal end terminating into peak and valley formations, the valley formations being arranged closer to the proximal end of the infusion sleeve than are the peak formations, the infusion sleeve being configured and arranged to prevent fluid flow across the peak formations while permitting the fluid flow across the valley formations after the fluid flow passes through the passage from the proximal end to reach the distal end so that the fluid flow changes direction of travel to pass across the valley formations. 
     
     
       2. The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end is serrated or scalloped to define the peak and valley formations. 
     
     
       3. The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an infusion source is in fluid communication with the passage and a source of suction is in fluid communication with the interior channel of the needle. 
     
     
       4. The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a driver of the needle and a control that is configured to direct the driver to drive the needle without manual intervention to move axially relative to the infusion sleeve by a distance back and forth that is greater than that which the needle would otherwise travel. 
     
     
       5. The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the infusion sleeve is configured and arranged to prevent fluid flow across the peak formations because of abutment of the peak formations with an incision. 
     
     
       6. A method of cooling, comprising extending a needle within confines of an infusion sleeve that is hollow and projecting a tip of the needle outwardly beyond a distal end of the infusion sleeve, the needle defining an interior channel, the infusion sleeve being elongated between the proximal and distal ends and being made of a flexible material that is collapsible and expandable axially as the needle is repetitively partially withdrawn and advanced, defining a passage between an interior surface of the infusion sleeve and an exterior surface of the needle, terminating the infusion sleeve at the distal end by peak and valley formations, arranging the valley formations closer to a proximal end of the infusion sleeve than are the peak formations, and preventing fluid flow across the peak formations while permitting the fluid flow across the valley formations after the fluid flow passes through the passage from the proximal end to reach the distal end so that the fluid flow changes direction of travel to pass across the valley formations. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the distal end has serrations or scallops that define the peak and valley formations. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising creating suction through the needle while the fluid flows to cool the needle. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein configuring the infusion source to be in fluid communication with the passage and arranging a source of suction in fluid communication with the interior channel of the needle. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising repetitively expanding and collapsing the infusion sleeve as the needle repetitively advances and partially withdraws. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the preventing arises from abutting the peak formations with an incision.